Palin Claims The Vice President Is ‘In Charge Of The U.S. Senate’

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Yesterday, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) sat for an interview with KUSA, an NBC affiliate in Colorado. In response to a question sent to the network by a third grader at a local elementary school about what the Vice President does, Palin erroneously argued that the Vice President is “in charge of the United States Senate“:

Q: Brandon Garcia wants to know, “What does the Vice President do?”

PALIN: They’re in charge of the U.S. Senate so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom.

...

Article I of the Constitution establishes an exceptionally limited role for the Vice President — giving the office holder a vote only when the Senate is “equally divided”:

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.

Moreover, the U.S. Senate website explains that the modern role of Vice Presidents has been to preside over the Senate “only on ceremonial occasions.” ThinkProgress contacted Senior Assistant Paliamentarian Peter Robinson, who also disputed Palin’s characterization of the Vice President’s role:

In modern practice the Vice President doesn’t really control the Senate. … If anyone has a responsibility to try to govern the Senate, it’s the responsibility of the two leaders.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/10/21/palin-vp-senate/

[msu17 0]

It's not the first time she's said that. I wouldn't put it past her to try and enlarge the role of VP though. She is going to be following in Cheney's footsteps...

[Peikko 1,575]

That's probably the job description that Palin will bring to the VP role, should she get elected. Gah, the senators must all be reeling, on both sides of the aisle! All that winking, bah, humbug.

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

Maaaaybe she tried to put it really simple, a 3rd grader won't digest all this, lets be realistics:

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.Moreover, the U.S. Senate website explains that the modern role of Vice Presidents has been to preside over the Senate, only on ceremonial occasions.

In modern practice the Vice President doesn't really control the Senate. If anyone has a responsibility to try to govern the Senate, it's the responsibility of the two leaders.

If she has answered the same thing by addressing adults, all I can say is I KNEW IT, nobody has answered her question yet, What does the VP do?

Edited October 21, 2008 by GueraYTavo

[rocks 494]

i really question palin's knowledge of politics... why have the senate if she would be "in charge" of them? why not just let her decide everything? she needs to stop opening her mouth.

i'm willing to bet she would have difficulty with this question too.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

i really question palin's knowledge of politics... why have the senate if she would be "in charge" of them? why not just let her decide everything? she needs to stop opening her mouth.

i'm willing to bet she would have difficulty with this question too.

[rocks 494]

i really question palin's knowledge of politics... why have the senate if she would be "in charge" of them? why not just let her decide everything? she needs to stop opening her mouth.

i'm willing to bet she would have difficulty with this question too.

i can't believe she had to take 50/50, i wonder what the other choices were.

[HAL 9000 96]

WOW. Just WOW I say.

[Marilyn. 340]

i really question palin's knowledge of politics... why have the senate if she would be "in charge" of them? why not just let her decide everything? she needs to stop opening her mouth.

i'm willing to bet she would have difficulty with this question too.

i can't believe she had to take 50/50, i wonder what the other choices were.

http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/gameshows/millionaire.asp

[Chica Yeyé 41]

WOW. Just WOW I say.

Why do you hate the Senate?

[Mononoke28 135]

Q: Brandon Garcia wants to know, “What does the Vice President do?”

Absolutely nothing. Don't get me started on ####### Cheney.

Diana

[HAL 9000 96]

WOW. Just WOW I say.

Why do you hate the Senate?

I WOW the Senate. House FTW!

[Sofiyya 1,687]

One of Biden's many gaffes during the VP debate was to cite the wrong Article when claiming to know what the VP does. 36 years in the Senate and he's still an idiot.

Yesterday, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) sat for an interview with KUSA, an NBC affiliate in Colorado. In response to a question sent to the network by a third grader at a local elementary school about what the Vice President does, Palin erroneously argued that the Vice President is ?in charge of the United States Senate?:

Q: Brandon Garcia wants to know, ?What does the Vice President do??

PALIN: They?re in charge of the U.S. Senate so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom.

...

Article I of the Constitution establishes an exceptionally limited role for the Vice President ? giving the office holder a vote only when the Senate is ?equally divided?:

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.

Moreover, the U.S. Senate website explains that the modern role of Vice Presidents has been to preside over the Senate ?only on ceremonial occasions.? ThinkProgress contacted Senior Assistant Paliamentarian Peter Robinson, who also disputed Palin?s characterization of the Vice President?s role:

In modern practice the Vice President doesn?t really control the Senate. ? If anyone has a responsibility to try to govern the Senate, it?s the responsibility of the two leaders.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/10/21/palin-vp-senate/

[IAMX 3,055]

This "executive experience" sure seems it's done her lots of good. Not.

If this is the representation of women who should be running the country I sure look forward to what it's going to look like with Miss South Carolina Teen USA running it.

I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some, people out there in our nation don't have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and, I believe that they should, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, or, uh, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future, for our [children]

Bimbos unite!

Edited October 21, 2008 by SRVT

[Sofiyya 1,687]

One of Biden's many gaffes during the VP debate was to cite the wrong Article when claiming to know what the VP does. 36 years in the Senate and he's still an idiot.

Yesterday, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) sat for an interview with KUSA, an NBC affiliate in Colorado. In response to a question sent to the network by a third grader at a local elementary school about what the Vice President does, Palin erroneously argued that the Vice President is ?in charge of the United States Senate?:

Q: Brandon Garcia wants to know, ?What does the Vice President do??

PALIN: They?re in charge of the U.S. Senate so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom.

...

Article I of the Constitution establishes an exceptionally limited role for the Vice President ? giving the office holder a vote only when the Senate is ?equally divided?:

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.

Moreover, the U.S. Senate website explains that the modern role of Vice Presidents has been to preside over the Senate ?only on ceremonial occasions.? ThinkProgress contacted Senior Assistant Paliamentarian Peter Robinson, who also disputed Palin?s characterization of the Vice President?s role:

In modern practice the Vice President doesn?t really control the Senate. ? If anyone has a responsibility to try to govern the Senate, it?s the responsibility of the two leaders.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/10/21/palin-vp-senate/